>> � q_author = cgi_author.gsub(/\+/, '+author:') + ' ' > what does this line do? I know gsub will replace the +author text with > something that comes out from /\+/ (althought i don't know what this > regwxp could generate)
gsub is used for substitution. Unlike sub which only substitutes the first regexp match found, gsub substitutes any number of matches found. The /\+/ is looking for anything that has a + symbol. So, My+Name+Is etc. When you use the cgi method above on the author name, it will correctly escape the html, which is necessary because an author's name could be anything from First Middle Last to First M. Last etc. Once the cgi method correctly formats the author's name, you are just providing a bit of substitution for Google's query engine. It's going to replace the + between the author's name with '+author:' and then add a space after the entire string so that if you had a name like John+Doe, it would appear as: John+author:Doe The query then appends this string: query = "http://www.google.com/groups?q=author:"; + q_author .. to this .. to form.. http://www.google.com/groups?q=author:John+author:Doe And if you click the link for this above, you'll see what happens when you get to google. Like I mentioned, you can tidy it up a bit if you want or keep it as needed. It will work. Just replace any author's name in your view with the helper method like I showed above and then test out your view by clicking on the author links and you'll see what happens. You can add a lot more to this helper method or build yourself an entire class for handling google queries and use methods from the class in your helpers, which is what I do. I thought about handing out a plugin that does all of this, but because google changes things often, I don't want to have to manage a project at this time. Maybe in the future sometime.. -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en.
